John G. Avildsen
Profile info
Known forDirecting
GenderMale
Birthday21 December 1935
Died16 June 2017 (age 81)
Place of birthOak Park, Illinois, USA
Known credits48
Biography
John Guilbert Avildsen (December 21, 1935 – June 16, 2017) was an American film director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1977 for Rocky. Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, For Keeps, Lean on Me, The Power of One, 8 Seconds, Inferno, Rocky V and the first three The Karate Kid films. Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Ivy (née Guilbert) and Clarence John Avildsen. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School and New York University. After starting out as an assistant director on films by Arthur Penn and Otto Premin…
May Day x 4
2026 · Cinematography
Ammo for Shooting Clouds: John G. Avildsen Before Rocky
2022 · Himself
40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic
2020 · Self (archive footage)
Saturday Night Fever: The Ultimate Disco Movie
2017 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Serpico
2017 · Self (archive footage)
American Satan
2017 · Talk Show Host
American Satan
2017 · Executive Producer
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
2017 · Self
The Real Miyagi
2015 · Self
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
2014 · Self - Director
The Rocky Saga: Going the Distance
2011 · Self
Tribute To James Crabe
2006 · Himself
Make Your Own Damn Movie!
2005 · Himself
The Way of The Karate Kid
2005 · Self - Director / Academy Award Winner
Magic Time: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon
2002 · Self
Inferno
1999 · Director
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997 · Self (archive footage)
8 Seconds
1994 · Director
The Troma System
1993 · Self
The Power of One
1992 · Director
The Power of One
1992 · Editor
Rocky V
1990 · Director
Rocky V
1990 · Editor
The Karate Kid Part III
1989 · Director
The Karate Kid Part III
1989 · Editor
Lean On Me
1989 · Director
Lean On Me
1989 · Executive Producer
Lean On Me
1989 · Editor
For Keeps
1988 · Director
For Keeps
1988 · Editor
Happy New Year
1987 · Director
The Karate Kid Part II
1986 · Director
The Karate Kid Part II
1986 · Editor
The Karate Kid
1984 · Editor
The Karate Kid
1984 · Director
A Night in Heaven
1983 · Director
A Night in Heaven
1983 · Editor
Traveling Hopefully
1982 · Director
Traveling Hopefully
1982 · Producer
Traveling Hopefully
1982 · Cinematography
Neighbors
1981 · Director
The Formula
1980 · Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978 · Producer
Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978 · Editor
Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978 · Director
Slow Dancing In The Big City
1978 · Camera Operator
Rocky
1976 · Director
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
1975 · Director
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